Monday, August 27, 2012

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

"Let us then rally round the independence and Constitution of our country, resolved to a man that we will never lose by folly, disunion, or cowardice what has been planned by wisdom and purchased by blood."

Delivered by Founding Father Noah Webster in honor of the birth our our nation on July 4th, 1798. From "Celebrate Liberty!" by David Barton.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Saturday I went to a popular restaurant in our county where we were holding a Republican social event.Imagine my surprise to walk out of the door and find a MoveOn.org worker with a table set up conducting voter registration.

If there was ever any doubt about how this election will go down, the appearance of MoveOn.org workers in our neighborhoods proves that we are for a long and vicious fight.These paid Obama Zombies are working right now while we are still distracted by primaries.

It is never too early to get engaged in your local Republican Party or if you prefer a Republican’s campaign.No matter what you think of the potential Presidential nominee, your Congress or Senate candidate can use your help now.

As I’ve said before – if you don’t walk your neighborhood, don’t worry – MoveOn.Org has you covered.You won’t like the result, but they have a vested interest in keeping a guy in office that wants your money and your freedom.

Friday, March 2, 2012

"President Obama has just hosted his 100th fundraiser in less than a year, according to a count by the ever-vigilant Republican National Committee, which has tracked the phenomenon across multiple news reports. The committee has done all the math to reveal that if Mr. Obama spends an average of two hours at each event, that equals 200 hours — or “five work weeks”.

The committee also notes certain events have not reached the 100 mark during the same time period, pointing out the president made 55 speeches on the economy, met 25 times with secretaries of defense Leon E. Panetta or Robert M. Gates, and held 22 meetings each with Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Mr. Obama also held 11 town halls and five news conferences, delivered three speeches on energy and three on housing, and held two joint White House meetings with Congressional leaders of both parties. Oh, and there were zero meetings with the anti-deficit super committee.

“While Obama was out on his fundraising blitz, Americans suffered the consequences,” the committee proclaims in retrospect, adding that the unemployment rate has averaged 9.2 percent, and the national debt has increased by $1,194,586,498,473.80 since the president’s fundraising push began."

Sunday, February 26, 2012

This is an unusual year for me as I have actually seen one of the movies in the top three contests (Best Picture, Actor, and Actress).Mrs. Common Sense shamed me into seeing “The Help” since I took her to see “True Grit.”By the way, Jeff Bridges in no John Wayne – but I digress.

Indeed after a review of all the categories, “The Help” is the only movie that I have seen of this year’s crop of losers.Once again I can’t for the life of me understand how a movie that doesn’t make money can be the “Best.” And why it would matter how good a performance is in a stinker of a film?Sorry, I just don’t get it.

I won’t be catching any of the festivities.I can’t generate any interest in the pampered and useless class.

Former Congressman Joe Scarborough was the master of ceremonies for the dinner and he did a very good job. He did receive some “boos” from the crowd when he was introduced but bulled through it well. I must admit that I generally only hear about Joe Scarborough when he says something stupid on MSNBC so I was pleasantly surprised at his rousing call to arms delivered just before his introduction of the Keynote Speaker Congressman Paul Ryan.

I couldn’t help but think as Ryan spoke that he might be one of the most important Members of the House of Representatives to stand before any crowd in our lifetime. He told us to be bold and cautioned us that we must provide a conservative plan and not just count on beating Obama with his failed presidency. He’s right – we can win this thing, but it’s going to take a lot of work and we have to send help to Ryan in the House and retake the Senate as well.

Again – if you're a conservative CPAC should go onto your bucket list. You won’t be bored and you will enjoy rubbing elbows with your fellow patriots.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Mrs. Common Sense and I had the opportunity to attend CPAC 2012 and the dinner that evening.I must tell you that for all real conservatives I think it is an experience that you should treat yourself to this lifetime.Though I live in the shadow of Washington, DC I rarely enter the city and yesterday I was reminded of why.If I go again, I’ll be getting a room as I refuse to deal with that traffic and the maze that is Washington, DC.

If you are a conservative and if you are keeping a bucket list, put CPAC on that list.It’s not everyday that most of us can casually walk up to Grover Norquist and ask him about the state of the Union.I’m not much of a fan nor do I get worked up about meeting the famous and infamous but it is interesting to meet those people face-to-face in a friendly and festive environment.Cocktails with Ken Blackwell anyone?

The first thing that grabbed my attention was the sheer number of young people in the crowd.A very good sign in my opinion.They were volunteers, young folks working the various booths, and still others there on student day-passes.There very few Paulbots in attendance rather there seemed to be a huge number of people sporting “Santorum” stickers (as were Mrs. Common Sense and I).

The second thing is that there was too much to do.We missed Senator Marco Rubio’s speech but did catch Speaker Boehner’s and Texas Governor Rick Perry’s:

When I looked at the Republican Presidential field 2012 BP (Before Perry) I was disappointed and most of you know that I was pushing for the Governor to enter the race.When he did I was happy and supportive.I think that the best guy we had for 2012 left the race.

However since my recent campaign contribution didn't result in a Rick Santorum sweater vest in the mail, I did secure one at CPAC (eat your heart out Hardnox):

“A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS made by the good people of Virginia in the exercise of their sovereign powers, which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government.

Section 1. Equality and rights of men.

That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”

Yes Mr. Obama – just across the Potomac live free people.We intend to stay that way.You are an impediment to our freedom and we will deal with you in November.

Please note that all we want is the “means” or the opportunity, not a free ride.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

I was inspired to write once again about the Red Cockaded Woodpecker by my blogger buddy Mrs. AL (Always Learning). All of us who are Marines are forced to deal with environmental Nazis whether we want to or not. It might be Least Terns in San Diego, Desert Tortoises in Twenty-nine Palms, or Red Cockaded Woodpeckers in CampLejeune. No matter – we all face them eventually. Oh – and don’t get me started on vernal pools and surf thistles!

But the vaunted Red Cockaded Woodpecker is my greatest nemesis by far. I first encountered these little bastards as an infantry lieutenant in the training areas of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I rarely saw a woodpecker, but constantly encountered the evidence left behind by the watermelons* who sought to protect them. You see, through the deep scientific study these lunatics determined that these birds needed to be protected from contact with humans in general and Marines in particular. Their solution? Every time they located a tree in which a pair of Red Cockaded Woodpeckers was cohabitating, they painted a double white band around the trunk of that tree. Then in a ten meter radius around that tree they painted trees with a single band thus creating a visual buffer zone to help them procreate in quiet privacy. We had to be quiet in those areas; we couldn’t camp or dig in those zones, nor use pyrotechnic devices.

I must point out that I never encountered such a privacy zone when I was ass-deep in a swamp or off the beaten path. All Red Cockaded Woodpecker procreation zones were immediately adjacent to a trail, path, or road. Over the years however these zones continued to blossom. While that should indicate an increase in nests and thus birds – the watermelons persisted in their demented tree anointing efforts.

We non-scientists began to understand what was going on. The North Carolina version of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker preferred dead trees as a homestead. As we drove our tracked and wheeled vehicles through the pine forests of CampLejeune the sandy soil was compacted, the roots of the trees were crushed and the trees died. Bingo - Red Cockaded Woodpeckers would call those newly murdered trees home. The enviro-Nazis would appear (because there was now a convenient path to that tree) and daub the newly dead and occupied tree with red paint. Vehicles now had to detour around that path. If you are not an enviro-Nazis scientist you will see where this is going. Our new path killed new trees and . . . . . I’ll connect the dots for the watermelons . . . . . Red Cockaded Woodpeckers took up residence and the watermelons showed up with more paint. This made white paint suppliers ecstatic but was becoming a real pain-n-the-ass for Marines.

Then the most remarkable discovery of all. We had a demolition range where we could use large explosives. The largest thing I ever set off there was a 40-pound cratering charge, but I’m sure there were larger explosions. One bad aspect of the large scale and continuous use of explosives was that chemicals leeched into the surrounding soil and killed the trees immediately adjacent to this area where earth rending and ear splitting explosions went off nearly every day. Only an environmental scientist would be surprised at what they found ringing that noisy range. You guessed it - Red Cockaded Woodpecker nests. Those randy little birds didn’t seem to mind the occasional ear drum rupturing explosion – so why exactly were we tip-toeing through the woods skirting the love-zones created by the watermelons?

As Ron White says – “You can’t fix stupid.” That appears to be the problem with watermelons.

Note: *Watermelons – Eco-Nazis a reference to them being green on the outside and red on the inside.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Monday was an unusual day as I caught a few minutes each of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin. I found it fascinating that all three of the radio conservative pundits rallied against the “establishment” Republicans in the small slice of time I caught. I also had an evening meeting with local Republicans that night. I couldn’t help but laugh on my way home as I thought about the people in that room and how ill fitting the word “establishment” was to that group. There were more than a dozen. Were we presented the same four candidates Floridians were there were probably only three votes for Mitt Romney if that many. One of the people who I pegged as a potential Romney supporter asked me who my guy was and I responded “Santorum.” She nodded her head and said, “I could live with him.”

Unfortunately in Virginia we will all be voting for Mitt Romney to avoid handing a victory to the Paulbots in March. But I digress.

Today I heard the term “establishment conservatives.” Okay knuckleheads, which is it? Me thinks that “establishment” is in the eye of the opposition.

I think that it’s past time to call that ridiculous “establishment” charge exactly what it is – BS. We “establishment” types are not a homogeneous mass of automatons (like say democrats?) who are all pulling for Romney to protect some imaginary rice bowl conjured up by pundits or critics alike.

If you doubt me – ask yourself, who is leading the “establishment” Republicans? Is it Reince Priebus? John Boehner? Rush Limbaugh? Who is it exactly that is making us all sit up and bark at the same time? Who told three quarters of a million people in Florida to vote for Mitt Romney?

I recommend you read the article but one point particularly stands out:

"Mr. Romney gave more to charity than he paid in taxes. That is a rare thing, indeed. He gave away more than $7 million to his church and other charities. He paid more than $6.2 million in federal taxes.”

I went back and reviewed my family’s giving and I misspoke, we have given nearly 15 times more than the Bidens on average on a smaller income.No wonder liberals want to squeeze more out of us – they can’t conceive that anyone would actually give of their own free will to the poor or disadvantaged.

Romney’s giving is Christian charity.The IRS redirecting my income to others is theft.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Well it appears that we are poised to relearn yet another nasty lesson at the hands of Democrats (Socialists, Liberals, Progressives, whatever).In their zeal to spend money on things that we don’t need and in ways that our Constitution never intended, President Barack Hussein Obama plans to savagely cut our military end strength.

Our Armed Forces are the envy of the modern world and have been so for about a century.Our young men and women enter into that tradition when they don the uniform.The overwhelming majority of nations have no such tradition and as a result their Armed Forces are little more than uniformed mobs.Even so called "modern" nations cannot compete with the military that America can field.I mean quality as well as quantity.Man-for-man (or woman-for-woman) we can whip any outfit in the world.

However now after handing President Obama conditions that he didn’t earn and victories that he had no part in crafting, he levels his guns at the American soldier and Marine.His administration intends to focus the Nation’s treasure on things (research and development) rather than people.

One of the things that surprises me most when discussing this topic is that people do not understand how long it takes to create a viable military unit.Sure the privates and sailors who populate an infantry battalion or ship might only have been in the service for 6 months, but the rest of the unit or crew have a lifetime of experience.It is often said that the backbone of any military organization is its non-commissioned officers – and I assure you that is true.You can’t make a sergeant in a year or two.It takes years that include formal and informal schooling, practice, and supervised experience.His or her actions are monitored and evaluated by their seniors so that their performance is constantly critiqued and improved.

What about those seniors?The First Sergeant who is the enlisted leader in every Marine infantry company is the product of nearly two decades of such training, feedback, improvement, and life experience.Those that can’t meet the lofty expectations of a Marine First Sergeant have gravitated to other lives as former Marines or failed to be promoted and eventually left for other lives.When mobile training teams start training the fledgling armed forces of emerging nations like Iraq or Afghanistan, there may be old guys around, but they aren’t steeped in the traditions of their service, they haven’t been molded by years of superior service, and they have not demonstrated their commitment to the Nation and their service.You can’t just “make” or even “train” a First Sergeant, you need to start with a superior person and put them through the entire infrastructure of traditions, schools, experience, practice, and leadership to “make” a First Sergeant.

What of the officers?Similarly, the Lieutenant that stands in front of an infantry platoon for the first time, may have only entered the service eight to ten months before, but he is product of either the military (those officers who rose through the ranks) or society where he or she came through a college or military institution.Those people self selected themselves for a life of service, difficulty, and perhaps danger due primarily to their love of country.They didn’t pursue a position due to class, clan, or religion, but out of patriotism.Officers are also trained, groomed, and molded by schooling, practice, criticism, and other experiences to take on ever increasing responsibilities.That young lieutenant who stands in front of a forty man infantry platoon at the age of twenty-two may in 16-18 years stand in front of a one thousand man infantry battalion.He will succeed not because of who his daddy is, or what church he attends, or what political party he belongs to, but because he has proven himself over and over again.He commands an infantry battalion because he also commands the trust and confidence of his seniors and his peers.You can’t make such a man overnight.

Now we stand ready to jettison all that experience for the false promise of peace.Haven’t we been through this before?The “War to End All Wars” - World War I comes to mind.Can no one in the Obama regime envision a war with Iran?A country with 545,000 active duty servicemen and 650,000 reserves.Might those 100,000 soldiers and Marines Obama intends to dump come in handy during such an event?You go to war with the service you have – didn’t we just learn that lesson?

Every time I think that things have gotten as bad as they could get, Barack moves the goal post.